Racing News: April 21 Morning Report

Lelisa Desisa Wins His Second Boston Marathon in Three YearsThe Ethiopian dropped out with an injury in 2014, but he’d been the Patriots’ Day champion in 2013, and donated his winner’s medal to the city of Boston. He’ll keep the one he earned on Monday. A large pack remained intact for much of Monday’s marathon, but Desisa, whose patience and good judgment paid off, asserted himself and took first in 2:09:17, which was 31 seconds clear of compatriot and runnerup Yemane Tsegay. Wilson Chebet, second a year ago, was third this time in 2:10:22. Defending champ Meb Keflezighi was eighth. More

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Kenya’s Caroline Rotich Sprints to a Boston VictoryOver the closing miles of Monday’s marathon, Rotich was in close company with the highly touted Ethiopians Mare Dibaba and Buzunesh Deba, and then it was down to just Rotich and Dibaba. When Dibaba inched ahead, Rotich thought to herself, “Oh, I’m going to get second.” But Dibaba faltered as Rotich sped up and won by four seconds in 2:24:55. Deba, who was the runnerup to Rita Jeptoo in 2014, was third in 2:25:09. Rotich is a two-time NYC Half champion but Monday’s win was her first in a World Marathon Major. More

Desiree Linden Leads American Women in fourth, Flanagan is ninthIn a departure from her usual tactics, the 2011 Boston Marathon runner-up was frequently in the lead among the elite women on Monday and stayed in contact with the top trio for 23 miles before taking fourth in 2:25:39. Shalane Flanagan, who’d missed some training in January due to a heel injury, ended up ninth in 2:27:47. Amy Cragg, who’d been with the lead group for 25 kilometers, later lost contact and did not finish. More

Ritzenhein in seventh Leads the U.S. Men in BostonDathan Ritzenhein, whose PR is 2:07:47, was racing in the Boston Marathon for the first time. He was visible in the lead at various points in Monday’s race before settling for seventh in 2:11:20, one place and 1:22 ahead of Meb Keflezighi. Americans Matt Tegenkamp and Jeffrey Eggleston were 11th and 12th in 2:13:52 and 2:14:17, respectively. Ritzenhein raced only once in 2014 and admits his biggest struggle is to stay healthy. Anticipating weather conditions would be far worse than they turned out to be on Monday served to his advantage, he said. More

On Boylston Street, Meb Experiences “Memories Good and Bad”The 2014 Boston Marathon champion, just two weeks shy of his 40th birthday, gamely stayed with the lead men for 20 miles on Monday. But later on, his stomach was so upset he had stop five times to throw up. He relished the emotions of what might be his last Boston as an elite runner. “I put my heart and soul into this race just like I did last year,” he said. More

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One Elite Woman Has a Memorable Crossing With MebAs defending men’s champion Meb Keflezighi ran down Boylston Street to the Boston Marathon finish, he came alongside Hilary Dionne, who’d started 28 minutes earlier with the elite women. He grabbed her hand to share the moment, and held it high. Dionne, admittedly “a little camera-shy,” was suddenly a TV and Internet presence. Dionne felt Keflezighi’s gesture “speaks to how he is as an athlete and his respect for the sport and the city.” More

St. Louis Marathon Winner Gets Her MomentAndrea Karl didn’t get the chance to break the finish line tape in St. Louis on April 13 because a rogue runner with a history of course-cutting snuck in front of her at the end. That woman was later disqualified, and on Sunday, a finish tape was set up at Busch Stadium before a Cardinals baseball game, and Karl broke it. More

For 2015, Brenda Martinez Is an 800-Meter RunnerMartinez is one of America’s best at both the 800 and 1500 on the track. But she was a 2013 World Championships bronze medalist in the 800, and she told the Press Enterprise, “We have the speed so why waste it? As soon as that speed leaves me with age, that’s when we’ll move up” from the 800 to the 1500. Martinez won her 800 on Saturday at the Mt. SAC Relays in 2:00.83. More

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